HP to set up medical college in Mandi: Dhumal

Mandi, Jan 25 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today announced to set up a medical college in Mandi district to provide better health facilities to the people of the state.

''The medical college in the district will provide better medical facilities to the people of the central zone. The district administration has been directed to acquire suitable land for the purpose,'' he said while addressing a gathering at Sarkaghat after unfurling the national flag on the occasion of the 38th Himachal Day function.

Mr Dhumal also inspected the parade and took salute from the contingents of Himachal Police, IRB, Traffic Police, Lady Police, Home Guards and NCC cadets in an impressive parade.

DSP Bhunpinder Singh commanded the parade.

He said the state government had also initiated steps for the revival of Mukhya Mantri Gram Path Yojna to connect all the villages with mettled path and increase road connectivity and link all gram panchayats with motorable roads.

The Vivekanand Medical College and Research Institute at Palampur, the construction of which had been stalled, would also be completed on a war-footing, he said.

The Chief Minister said he had also taken up the issue of extending railway network in Himachal with the Railway Minister who had assured that Baddi, Chandigarh, Bhanupali, Beri-Bilaspur and Nangal Talwara would be completed within the stipulated time.

A plan had been drawn by the new BJP government to strengthen economic position of the farmers and orchidists, he said, adding that effective steps would also be taken to deal with the menance of wild animals destroying crops of the farmers.

Referring to the curtailment of economic package by three years to 2010 from 2013 years, Mr Dhumal said the package was given to the state by the then NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said his government would fulfill all the promises made to the electorate during the assembly elections and had already taken steps in this regard by announcing holiday for government women employees on Karva Chaut and increasing wages of the daily workers.

The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised all possible help to the hill state during his meeting with him recently.

The state government had also announced a sum of Rs 6.30 crore for the setting up sewerage system for the town, he said, adding that the local girls school would also be upgraded to senior seconday school.

UNI XC AS PS VN2001